The Haiti-DR wall

The idea originally came from the Haitians themselves when they started building a wall in order to prevent contraband from the Dominican Republic. The Haitian government wants to charge more import taxes.

Today’s Diario Libre back page editorial, Tuesday 17 June, makes light of the first statements by the country’s newest legislator, Marino Vinicio Castillo, who proposed the construction of a border wall between the two countries. Editor Ines Aizpun comments that it is all nonsense. “The Berlin Wall had to be toppled, and people jump over the Mexican wall in sandals. How would we fund the construction if the DR can’t bear any more loans?” asks the writer. “And it is foolish to do what others are doing on their own, and the Haitians, without known reasons, already took the initiative,” she adds.

“Even, in their case, it would be good because they would employ their own people. And if they have work on that side, would not try to cross the Masacre River, let alone the wall. And the ILO (International Labor Organization), as a multilateral organization, or the international community, could monitor to ensure there is neither exploitation nor abuse, as would be the case if this were a Dominican project.”

Meanwhile, Minister of Interior and Police described the proposal for the wall as “absurd” and said that what was needed is a wall of legality. Minister of Defense Sigfrido Pared Perez has also described it as “utopian,” but was in favor of it being built in certain key areas.

Leading Church figures are divided on the issue. Monsignor Jose Dolores Grullon, bishop of San Juan de la Maguana and Elias Pina says it is a shameful idea, but Archbishop of Santiago, Ramon Benito de la Rosa y Carpio is in favor of its complete or partial construction.